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The following club outings are available to all, please contact us via e-mail for more information. (pn@pickeringnaturalists.org)
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Thursday 12 August, 2010 Perseid Meteor Showers Outing - 8.45pm |
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Leader: Steve LaForest
Meet at Greenwood C.A., northwest parking lot, at 8:40 pm.
Rain / cloud date Friday August 13
Each year on about August 12 - 13, the earth passes through debris left by comet Swift-Tuttle. The
annual encounter produces a meteor shower. As the tiny particles streak through our planet's upper
atmosphere, they leave trails of hot gas. From the ground, the trails show up as "shooting stars."
The moon will set just after sunset, so we'll have ideal viewing conditions. We can expect to see as
many as 60 meteors an hour.
People may want to bring their binoculars for looking at stars. If you have a spotting scope, it might
be a good idea to bring that along too. For those who have neither - a pair of eyes will do! There may
be some mosquitoes at dusk, so please dress accordingly. Also note that it is generally quite a bit
cooler after sunset, so bring along a jacket and maybe a sweater or 2 as well. For the ultimate in
meteor-viewing pleasure, a folding lounge chair is ideal.
Highlights for this year's outing will include several planets. Venus, Saturn and Mars will be low in
the west at sunset, along with a crescent moon, so those who arrive right on time will have the best
chance of seeing them. Jupiter is also visible, but it won't rise until quite late in the evening -
several of its moons will also be visible. We'll also see many stars and constellations; some
nebulae, star clusters and artificial satellites; and even a distant galaxy.
Directions for Greenwood C.A.: From Hwy 401, take the Westney Road exit (# 401) and go north 6
km to the 5th Concession Road, turn left (west) and go 1 km to Church St., turn left (south) and go
~0.2 km to the parking lot on the left (east) side. Note – do NOT follow signs into main C.A.
parking lot off Westney and Greenwood Road.
Anyone wishing to check ahead may contact me through the website: www.pickeringnaturalists.org or email pn@pickeringnaturalists.org. If conditions look questionable on Thursday August 12, I will send an
email that afternoon to reschedule to the rain/cloud date of Friday August 13.
Everyone is welcome to attend.
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Saturday, 11 September 2010 Presquile Shorebirds |
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Leader: John Stirrat
Difficulty: minimal walking, mostly standing at various observation points
Meet at the Pickering GO station lot at 8:00am or at Presqu’ile Park at the Beach 4 (Owen Point)
parking lot at 9:30am. Park admission is required. We will concentrate on migrant shorebirds
on the beaches and then passerines in the woodlots. The beach area at the park may be the
closest viewing opportunity we have to see these long distance migrants on their way south.
Opportunities will occur for botanizing too.
We will also visit the Brighton Wetlands outside the Park. Last year the wetlands gave us
additional shorebirds, rails and waterfowl.
Note that there is a new policy in force this year for entry to the wetlands. Each person entering
must have a permit. The permit application can be downloaded from the Brighton municipal
website http://www.brighton.ca/uploads/file/2010BirdWatchingPermit.pdf or obtained in person
during business hours at the office at 67 Sharp Road, Brighton. The annual fee is $5 per person.
You must carry your permit with you whenever you visit. Please obtain your permit in advance if
you plan to enter the wetlands with us. At present, there is no group permit available.
Call if you are planning on attending so we can coordinate carpooling. Bring binoculars, spotting
scopes (if you have them), field guides, lunch and water – sunscreen and bug repellant too.
Please call John if you are attending so we can coordinate car pooling.
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OTHER OUTDOOR OPPORTUNITIES |
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OFO Outings Check here for more details: http://www.ofo.ca/fieldtrips/tripsupcoming.php
April 10&11 (Saturday&Sunday)
Gore Bay, Manitoulin Island – Pre Registration required
April 17(Saturday)
Spring Waterfowl Migration East of Ottawa
April 18 (Sunday)
Algonquin Provincial Park
May 1 (Saturday)
Minesing Swamp
May 2 (Sunday)
Rondeau Provincial Park
May 22 (Saturday)
Napanee area and Amherst Island
May 29 (Saturday)
Leslie Street Spit, Toronto
May 30 (Sunday)
Ottawa (until noon)
May 30 (Sunday)
Carden Alvar
DRFN Outings Check here for more details: http://www.drfn.ca/trips.htm
Sunday, March 21, 2010 at 9:00 AM - Presqu‟ile Provincial Park: Waterfowl
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PREVIOUS OUTINGS |
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Saturday, 15 May 2010 SPRING WILDFLOWERS IN PEGG’S BACKWOODS |
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Leader: Doug Lockrey
Difficulty: minimal walking.
Meet at 9:30 am. Park on Concession 7 Pickering at the Pegg‟s driveway (Concession 7 west of
Westney Road opposite the Claremont C.A, entrance).
Betty‟s photography and Edge Pegg‟s nature expertise were well honed in the woods behind their
house. It will be my pleasure to accompany you on a stroll to examine closely the plant life and the
sheer beauty of the spring flowers. Bring any botanical references and your binoculars. This is a
combined Pickering Naturalists/Durham Field Naturalists outing.
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Saturday, May 1, 2010
THICKSON”S WOODS/ CRANBERRY MARSH/ SECOND MARSH |
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Leader: Geoff Carpentier
Difficulty: Driving, walking and standing.
Meet at Thickson’s Woods at 8:00 am. We will be investigating the woods, meadow and marsh for early migrants. We will then go to Cranberry Marsh and finish at Second Marsh.
All birders welcome. This is an excellent outing for the beginning birder. Bring field guides, binoculars and a lunch. We will finish by mid-afternoon unless there is interest in continuing.
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Saturday, April 24, 2010 SURPRISE SPRING OUTING |
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Leader: John Stirrat
Difficulty: Driving, walking and standing.
Meet at Pickering GO parking lot (Bayly and Liverpool) at 8:00 am.
Where we go will depend on recent bird activity in the Pickering through Oshawa corridor.
This time of year usually has early passerines – warblers, thrushes, etc. – so we will probably
concentrate on the wooded areas that these migrants favour on their way through our area.
You will have to come out to see where we end up birding. We will finish by mid-afternoon unless
there is interest in continuing.
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Saturday, 20 March 2010 LONG POINT AREA |
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Leader: John Stirrat
Difficulty: minimal walking, mostly standing at various observation points
Meet at 8:30 am at the Pickering GO station (Bayly and Liverpool). We will be driving to the Long Point area and travel time will be well over two hours (with a ―compulsory‖ stop at the Tim‘s in Simcoe). We will not be returning to the Pickering area until after supper time.
Hopefully our trip will coincide with the large number of Tundra Swans that stop over in the Long Point area on their migration to the Arctic tundra. It is a magnificent sight if we hit it right. We should also be able to see migrant Sandhill Cranes and wintering Rough-legged Hawks and Bald Eagles. Depending on the weather patterns, we may see some early migrants like Horned Larks and Killdeer.
Although most of the trip will be in the comfort of our vehicles, dress warmly for the times that we are out. We will probably stop at a local restaurant for lunch but you can bring your own if you prefer. Please contact John (Outings coordinator) if you are coming.
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Saturday, 20 February 2010 Photography Outing - 7.30 a.m |
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Leader: Max Skwarna
Duration: 3 to 4 hours, easy walking
Calling all photographers! Have you been itching to get out with your camera but unsure of where to go and what to shoot? Join us for a morning in the wild at Lynde Shores, perhaps our most photogenic conservation area. From friendly chickadees that land on your hand and colourful feeder birds amidst snow-covered birches to habitat shots of Cranberry Marsh in hibernation and icicles and waves on the shoreline, learn how to get the most out of your camera. Waterfowl are always on hand, and with luck, beaver, deer, or fox, too. Special topics include macro photography, shutter speed options, use of flash, and backgrounds. As a professional photographer, Max will give you the benefit of his many years of experience behind the eyepiece.
It doesn’t matter whether you have a point-and-shoot, a digital SLR, or an older film camera – please join Max for his very first PN photography outing. Please bring a tripod if you have one. Visit the PN website to view a selection of his recent winter scenes, or check out his website at www.ashleyandcrippen.com (see links there for nature & birds).
For additional information, please call Max at (416) 925-2222.
Meet at: Lynde Shores C.A. parking lot, Bayly St. (also known as Victoria St.), Whitby
Directions: From the west, take Hwy 401 to Salem Road (exit 404), go south ~1 km to Bayly St., turn left and go east ~6 km to Lynde Shores C.A. parking lot, on right (south) side. If coming from the east, take Hwy 401 to Brock St. (Whitby) exit 410, go south ~½ km to Victoria St., turn right and go west ~ 5 km. Transit users – please call Steve LaForest (905) 720-2794 in advance to arrange a pickup at the Whitby GO station.
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Saturday, 13 February 2010 WEST LAKESHORE BIRDING |
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Leader: John Stirrat
Difficulty: minimal walking, mostly standing at various observation points
Plan to meet at 8:30am on the southwest corner of the Pickering GO Station parking lot (Bayly and Liverpool). We will carpool and drive to the Bronte Harbour at the foot of Bronte Road in Oakville.
Birding the west end of Lake Ontario is unique for the large rafts of ducks found there. We are certain to see a number of species. This is a great outing for both experienced and beginner birders. The variety and possible great sightings like Eiders or all three Scoters will appeal to the experienced birder. The ease of identification and relative closeness of some of the species will appeal to the beginner.
We will explore from the Bronte area over through Burlington, Windermere Basin and even as far as Grimsby if the conditions and interest warrant. Remember to dress warmly – the lakeshore area can be windy and cold. We will stop at a local restaurant (Hutch‘s) for lunch but you can bring your own if you prefer. Please contact John (Outings coordinator) if you are coming.
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Saturday, 9 January 2010 BIRD FEEDER TOUR |
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Leader: Doug Lockrey
Difficulty: mostly driving with some minimal walking.
We will meet at 8:30am on the southwest corner of the Pickering GO Station parking lot (Bayly and Liverpool). Bring your binoculars, ‗scopes, bird books, friends and a thermos of coffee, to enjoy a morning tour of the Pickering country roads. We hope to view a good variety of birds at local feeders and alongside the roads. Dress warmly, as there will be embarking from cars at various spots as we drive from point to point.
We will also have the pleasure of observing feeders from the warmth of two homes. --our first stop will be to examine feeder and Rouge Valley birds from the home of Jonathan & Rosemary Oliver, and our last stop will be to view the birds while enjoying a wonderful repast at the home of Betty Pegg in North Pickering.
Carpools can be arranged at the GO station. Please contact Doug or John (Outings coordinator) if you are coming..
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Saturday, 2 January 2010, CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT |
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Leader: Glenda Jones
Difficulty: mostly driving with some walking for those comfortable in doing so.
The Pickering Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is an annual event in which club members and other interested birders count birds throughout all of Ajax and Pickering during the daylight hours on a day near Christmas. Our CBC is part of an international Christmas period census of birds. The area is divided into 10 ―territories‖, each to be covered by a team.
If you have not participated before, you could accompany a more experienced birder or team. Please contact Glenda as soon as possible to register your interest. There is a $5 participant fee for administrative expenses. A get-together for refreshments and tallying the day‘s observations will follow around 5 pm at Rosemary and Jonathan Oliver‘s home.
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Sunday, November 29, 2009 NIAGARA GULLS |
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Leader: Rayfield Pye (a joint outing with the Durham Field Naturalists)
Meet at the Pickering GO parking lot (Bayly and Liverpool) at 8:00am. Please call John Stirrat if you are coming so we can organize carpooling. The drive from the GTA to Niagara Falls will take a couple of hours each way.
Minimal walking difficulty -- short walks from parking spots. Expect the weather to be cold and damp. It can be very cold on the river so dress warmly. Bring lunch, binoculars and your favourite field guides (as well as a scope, if you have one).
We will be visiting several locations along the Niagara River to learn about Gulls. In late November, there are enormous numbers of gulls on the river. Among the more common gulls, there may be Lesser Black-backed Gull, Little Gull, Black-legged Kittiwake or Sabine’s Gulls. In past years, Purple Sandpiper and Brant have also been seen.
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Saturday, October 17, 2009 MIGRANTS OF THE SHORELINE MARSHES |
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Leader: John Stirrat
Meet at the Pickering GO parking lot (Bayly and Liverpool) at 8:00am. We will be hiking (moderate effort) around the local shoreline marshes.
These shoreline marshes attract flocks of fall migrants, both land birds and water birds. We will visit a selection of our best local wetlands, potentially including Frenchman’s Bay, Corner Marsh, Cranberry Marsh, Pringle Creek, Corbett Creek and Oshawa Second Marsh. Our choice of marshes will depend on which have shown the best birding. Bring lunch, binoculars and your favourite field guides (as well as a scope, if you have one). Since the lakeshore can be quite cool at this time of year, please dress appropriately.
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Sunday, September 20, 2009 FLOWERING PLANTS |
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Leader: Doug Lockrey 905 666 3897 lockrey33@rogers.com
Meet at 10:00am at the south platform at Cranberry Marsh. Join Doug for a one-hour walk examining the flowering plants in and around the marsh. Doug has identified and photographed many of the area wildflowers--he will have several albums of photos. Come for the plant observation; stay for the Hawk Watch.
Directions: From the east along Bayly St., go through Lakeridge Road to the first street--south down Hall's Road toward the lake, to the second roadside parking area. From the west, travel on Bayly/Victoria past Lynde Creek Conservation Area to Hall’s Road.
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Wednesday, September 16, 2009 Pickering Waterfront Trail |
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Leader: Ross Lamb
This pleasant morning walk will begin at 9AM and proceed east along the boardwalk beside Lake Ontario through Alex Robertson Park towards Simcoe Point and Duffins Marsh at Rotary Park in Ajax, then back again.
We’ll begin at the East parking lot at the south-most end of Liverpool Road in Pickering.
Late summer migrating birds, dragonflies, butterflies and blossoms should be prominent. Wear comfortable footwear and weather-appropriate clothing. The expected time for completion is around 12PM.
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Saturday, September 12, 2009 PRESQU’ILE SHOREBIRDS, ETC. |
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Leader: John Stirrat
Meet at the Pickering GO station lot at 8:00am or at Presqu’ile Park at the Beach 4 parking lot at 9:30am.
Park admission required. We will concentrate on migrant shorebirds on the beaches and then passerines in the woodlots. The beach area at the park may be the closest viewing opportunity we have to see these long distance migrants on their way south. We will also visit the Brighton Wetlands outside the Park. Opportunities will occur for botanizing too.
Call if you are planning on attending so we can coordinate carpooling. Bring binoculars, spotting scopes (if you have them), field guides, lunch and water – sunscreen and bug repellant too.
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Saturday, August 22, 2009 Oak Ridges Moraine Trail |
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Leader: Ross Lamb
Once more, we will meet at 8:30AM at the south entrance of the former Claremont Conservation Area. From the 401, head north on Westney Road and continue north of Highway 7. Turn left on Concession 7 Road. Go about 300 metres; the park gate is on the right hand side.
From there we will drive together to the parking lot which is on west side of 7th Concession Rd. north of County Rd. 5 (9th concession Road).
This vigorous hike will proceed through deciduous and coniferous forests, along sections of the Trans-Canada trail. Participants are advised to wear hiking boots or heavy-terrain shoes, bring sunscreen, bug spray, bottled water, a snack and even a hiking/walking stick. Some of this terrain is rough and uneven and involves traversing tall hills. We hope to complete our outing not long after 12 noon.
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Perseid Meteor Shower & Stargazing Outing |
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WEDNESDAY August 12, 2009
Rescheduled from Tuesday August 11
Perseid Meteor Shower & Stargazing Outing
Leader: Steve LaForest
Wednesday August 12
Highlights for this year's outing will include several planets. Saturn will be low in the west at sunset, so those who arrive right on time will have the best chance of seeing it. Jupiter is incredibly bright, and we'll be able to observe several of its moons too. Mars and Venus will be up as well, but not until about 3 am! We'll also see plenty of stars and constellations, some nebulae, star clusters and artificial satellites, and even a galaxy.
Wednesday August 12
Meet in Ajax at Tim Horton’s at 8:00 pm, then carpool and drive up to Greenwood C.A. Please note that I will leave promptly at 8:15, to reach the C.A. early. For those who wish to meet us at the viewing site, please go to Greenwood C.A., northwest parking lot, for 8:30 pm.
Directions for Greenwood C.A.: From Hwy 401, take the Westney Road exit (# 401) and go north 6 km to the 5th Concession Road, turn left (west) and go 1 km to Church St., turn left (south) and go ~0.2 km to the parking lot on the left (east) side. Note – do NOT follow signs into main C.A. parking lot off Westney and Greenwood Road.
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Wednesday, August 5, 2009 Altona Forest and local wetlands |
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Leader: Ross Lamb
9:00AM is our starting time for this hike through the recently created Altona Forest park. The morning outing begins at the forest’s parking lot on the east side of Altona Road north of Highway 2 and south of Finch Avenue. After completing the 3km worth of trails through shaded woods and ponds we will proceed west along Finch Avenue to other local wetlands within the Rouge Park system.
Be prepared for potential boggy areas with water-resistant footwear and mosquitoes, for which you’ll need insect repellent. Expected completion should be before 12 noon.
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Saturday, July 25 2009 Bluebird Trail and the forests of the Claremont region |
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Leader: Ross Lamb
We will meet at 8:30AM at the south entrance of the former Claremont Conservation Area. From the 401, head north on Westney Road and continue north of Highway 7. Turn left on Concession 7 Road. Go about 300 metres; the park gate is on the right hand side.
Our hike will take us through varied terrain of woodlands, a rehabilitated gravel pit and formal trail. Hiking boots are not required but recommended. Participants should bring sunscreen, bug spray, bottled water, and a light lunch or snack. There will be a slight emphasis on wildflowers but binoculars will be useful too.
We should be able to complete this hike sometime in the mid-afternoon.
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Wednesday, July 8, 2009 West Pickering Waterfront Trail |
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Leader: Ross Lamb
We’ll start at 9:00AM in the parking lot at the entrance of Rouge Beach Park. From the 401, go south on Port Union Road; turn left at Lawrence Avenue East and continue eastward until the road ends. This brings you to the entrance to the park. The parking lot is near the footbridge.
From the mouth of the Rouge River, our route will proceed eastward through Petticoat Creek Park to the western shore of Frenchman’s Bay at the lake and back. The walk will be done on a fairly level surface and offer us great views of Lake Ontario as we ramble past a large White Pine woodlot, marshlands and a dune complex. We’ll keep our eyes peeled for wildflowers, butterflies and resident birds.
This walk should be finished before noon so a lunch or snack is optional. Sunscreen, insect repellent, bottled water and weather-appropriate clothing are recommended.
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Saturday, 13 June 2009 - Whitby Waterfront Trail Hike |
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Leader: Ross Lamb
Meet at 8:30AM at the south end of the parking lot at Whitby Harbour. From the 401, head south on Brock Street in Whitby (NOT Brock Road). Go approximately 1km south past Victoria St. East and then, at the lakeshore, enter the harbour parking lot on your right (west side).
We will enjoy a walk past regenerated meadows and woodlands along a mostly paved waterfront trail. This walk will find us heading east towards Intrepid Park, due east of Thickson’s Woods, and then back. Hiking boots are not required but comfortable footwear is recommended. Bring sunscreen, insect repellent, bottled water, and a light lunch or snack. Binoculars and cameras are optional. We should be able to complete this walk sometime in the early afternoon.
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Saturday, 6 June 2009 - CARDEN ALVAR BIRDING |
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Leader: John Stirrat
Meet at Pickering GO parking lot (Bayly and Liverpool) at 8:00 am.
We will be driving to Wiley Road, north of Kirkfield. Expect to see lots of grassland birds (Bluebirds, Bobolinks, Meadowlarks, Upland Sandpipers, Common Snipe, and Grasshopper Sparrow). In addition, we should be able to see the endangered Loggerhead Shrike. Bring binoculars, guides and a lunch.
If you have never been to the Carden area, this is an opportunity to see this unique environment and its resident bird life. The Carden Alvar has been described as the best grassland birding area in Ontario. Beginners and experienced birders welcome.
Please email John if you are attending so we can coordinate car pooling.
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Wednesday, 22 April 2009 - Rouge Park Hike |
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Leader: Ross Lamb
M
eet at 9.00 am in the southeast parking lot at Reesor Rd. and Steeles Ave East. This is a moderate hike through scenic woodland park. Bring field guide binoculars and lunch. We should be done by mid afternoon.
Please contact Ross Lamb (Outings coordinator) if you are coming.
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Saturday, 14 Mar 2009 - TORONTO WATERFRONT |
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Leader: John Stirrat
M
eet at 8:30 am at the Pickering GO station. We will be driving to Colonel Sam Smith Park (foot of Kipling) and working our way back along the Toronto waterfront. Expect to see many ducks and gulls that over-winter along the shores of Lake Ontario. We should see Horned and Red-necked Grebes and may also be fortunate enough to see Tundra Swans as they migrate north around this time. This is another trip that can be enjoyed by both experienced and beginner birders. We will be out all day (weather permitting). We will probably stop at a local restaurant for lunch but you can bring your own if you prefer. Dress warmly. The lakeshore can still be cold in mid-March.
Please contact John (Outings coordinator) if you are coming.
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Saturday, 14 Feb 2009 - WEST LAKESHORE BIRDING |
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Leader: John Stirrat
Meet at 8:30am at the southwest corner of the Pickering GO Station parking lot. We will carpool and drive to the Bronte Harbour at the foot of Bronte Road in Oakville. Birding the west end of Lake Ontario is unique for the large rafts of ducks found there. We are certain to see a number of species. This is a great outing for both experienced and beginner birders. The variety and possible great sightings like Eiders or all three Scoters will appeal to the experienced
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Saturday, 10 Jan 2009 - BIRD FEEDER TOUR |
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Leader: Doug Lockrey
Meet at 8:30am at the southwest corner of the Pickering GO Station parking lot. Bring your binoculars, ‘scopes, bird books, friends and a thermos of coffee, to enjoy a morning tour of the Pickering country roads. We hope to view a good variety of birds at local feeders and alongside the roads. Dress warmly, as there will be embarking from cars at various spots as we drive from point to point. We will also have the pleasure of observing feeders from the warmth of two homes. --our first stop will be to examine feeder and Rouge Valley birds from the home of Jonathan & Rosemary Oliver, and our last stop will be to view the birds while enjoying a wonderful repast at the home of Betty Pegg in North Pickering.
Carpools can be arranged at the GO station.
Please contact Doug or John (Outings coordinator) if you are coming.
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Sat, 3 Jan, 2009 - CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT |
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Leader: Glenda Jones
The Pickering Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is an annual event in which club members and other interested birders count birds throughout all of Pickering during the daylight hours on a day near Christmas. Our CBC is part of an international Christmas period census of birds. The Pickering area is divided into 10 “territories”, each to be covered by a counter or team. If you have not participated before, you could accompany a more experienced birder or team. Please contact Glenda (905 427 6999) as soon as possible to register your interest.
There is a $5 participant fee payable to Bird Studies Canada to cover their administrative expenses. A get-together for refreshments and tallying the day’s observations will follow around 4:30 pm. Thanks to our hosts Jonathon and Rosemary Oliver (905-509-8489 385 Woodgrange Ave, Pickering).
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Sunday, 30 Nov, 2008 - NIAGARA GULLS |
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Leader: Rayfield Pye (a joint outing with the Durham Field Naturalists)
Meet at the Pickering GO parking lot (Bailey and Liverpool) at 8:00 am.
Please call John Stirrat if you are coming so we can organize carpooling. The drive from the GTA to Niagara Falls will take a couple of hours each way. Minimal walking difficulty -- short walks from parking spots. Expect the weather to be cold and damp. It can be very cold on the river so dress warmly. Bring lunch, binoculars and your favourite field guides (as well as a scope, if you have one).
We will be visiting several locations along the Niagara River to learn about Gulls. In late November, there are enormous numbers of gulls on the river. Among the more common gulls, there may be Lesser Black-backed Gull, Little Gull, Black-legged Kittiwake or Sabine’s Gulls. In past years, Purple Sandpiper and Brant have also been seen.
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Saturday, October 18, 2008 ASTRONOMY |
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Leader: Steve LaForest (905) 720-2784 stevelaforest@hotmail.com
Meet at 7 pm at Greenwood Conservation Area – From Hwy 401, exit at Westney Rd., go North ~7 km to Whitevale Rd. (Concession Rd. 5), turn left and go West 2 km to Church St., turn left and go South ~1/2 km to parking lot on left. The dark skies of Greenwood C.A. will give us an excellent setting for viewing autumn stars and constellations as well as a couple of planets. The highlights of the show are Venus and Jupiter, the brightest objects in the sky right now, after the sun and moon. We’ll also bid a fond farewell to the summer triangle, have a look at some early winter constellations, and view the Andromeda galaxy. Steve will arrive early, shortly after sunset at 6:26, as Venus will then be at its best. Later in the evening, the waning moon will cap off our viewing session. Bring binoculars and spotting scopes, if you have them. Star maps will be provided.
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Saturday, October 11, 2008 MIGRANTS OF THE SHORELINE MARSHES |
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Leader: John Stirrat
Meet at the Pickering GO parking lot (Bailey and Liverpool) at 8:00am. We will be hiking (moderate effort) around the local shoreline marshes. These shoreline marshes attract flocks of fall migrants, both land birds and water birds. We will visit a selection of our best local wetlands, potentially including Frenchman’s Bay, Corner Marsh, Cranberry Marsh, Pringle Creek, Corbett Creek and Oshawa Second Marsh. Our choice of marshes will depend on which have shown the best birding. Bring lunch, binoculars and your favourite field guides (as well as a scope, if you have one). Since the lakeshore can be quite cool at this time of year, kindly dress appropriately.
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Sunday, September 21, 2008 FLOWERING PLANTS |
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Leader: Doug Lockrey 905 666 3897 lockrey33@rogers.com
Meet at 10:00 am at the south platform at Cranberry Marsh. Join Doug for a one-hour walk examining the flowering plants in and around the marsh. Doug has identified and photographed many of the area wildflowers – he will have several albums of photos. Come for the plant observation; stay for the Hawk Watch. Directions: From the east along Bayly St., go through Lakeridge Road to the first street--south down Hall's Road toward the lake, to the second roadside parking area. From the west, travel on Bayly/ Victoria past Lynde Creek Conservation Area to Hall’s Road.
Please see Club Newsletter for additional field trips scheduled throughout the year.
Meeting Places
Field trips start at one of the following meeting places and car-pooling is encouraged:
Please pay attention to the meeting times as they vary.
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